Container adapter for spray guns



April 14, 1942. g, NQTH CONTAINER ADAPTER FOR SPRAY GUNS Filed May 2, 1938 Patented Apr. 14, 1942 DS-TATES PATENT oF Flce CONTAINER ADAPTER FOR SPRAY GUNS Carl F. Noth, Chicago, In.

Application May 2, 1938, Serial No. 205,496

9 Claims.

This invention relates to a structure for converting a paint can into a spray cup for a spray gun. More particularly, this invention has to do with providing an adapter which will make a leak-proof fit with a paint can without damaging the lips of the paint can orifice.

During the past year or two, paint manufacturers have made available to paint users a special can having a protruding, pouring orifice. This type of can has made it possible to dispense with the spray cup attached to a spray gun by the simple expedient of attaching the can directly to the gun in the place of the spray cup. This elimination of the spray cup eliminates unavoidable wastage of paint. Under the new practise, the paint can, when a job is completed, is disconnected from the spray gun, its cover is replaced and it is returned to the shelf, there to remain until another job requires that particular paint. The only wastage of paint is that small amount left in the spray un itself and in the adapter.

Existing adapters are unsatisfactory in that they do not obtain a proper purchase on the rim of the orifice of the paint can with the result that the comparatively weak material of the can is twisted and torn and the can wobbles in the adapter with resulting leakage of paint. If the adapter is applied to a can orifice a multitude of times, itis not long before the can orifice is so out of shape that it no longer affords a purchase to the gripping means of the adapter with the result that the paint must be removed from the can and the can thrown away.

The principal object of this invention is there- I fore to provide a clamping means for the adapter having jaws of such shape and action as will obtain great purchase on the lip or rim of the orifice of a conventional paint can.

A second object of this invention is to render adjustable the distance between the adapter lid and the intake of the spray gun without the use of nuts and threads. In almost all spray guns the operating trigger is located so closely behind the intake tube that interference with the adapter will result unless the adapted can be adjusted to clear the trigger. In existing adapters, this variation is obtained by threaded tubes and nuts, and adjustment requires the expenditure of considerable time. Additionally, different threads are used on the intake tube of various makes of spray guns. It is desirable that the tube be easily removable from the adapter in order that a nut having the particular thread for the spray gun to be used may be slipped on the tube. v

' A third object of this invention is to provide a locking means having no hinge actions. EX- isting adapters lock the adapter lid to the paint can by means which become jammed by hardened paint. The invention; which is disclosed below, presents a locking jaw which can be withdrawn from the locking assembly for the purpose of cleaning. g H The above and other desirable objects will appear hereinafter in the description of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawing comprising one sheet hereby made a part of this specification, and wherein:

Fig. l is a perspectiveview of the containeradapter in unlocked position on top of a paint can; a

Fig. 2 is a cross section of the device in locked position with a perspective view of a portion of a spray gun; r

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view of the locking means in unlocked position taken from the underside of the adapter and of a fragment of the adapter lid;

Fig. 4 is a view of the locking device taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view of the fixed jaw of the locking means taken from the under side of the adapter and of a fragment of the adapter lid; and

Fig. 6 is a lever. I I p The same reference character is used in the specification that follows to identify a part as is used to indicate the same part in the drawlIlgS.

Examining my invention in detail, a conventional paint can is indicated by the numeral lfl.

perspective view of the locking This can It is termed conventional because in the last year or two it has become standard for paint to be applied through spray guns. Unlike the cans heretofore in general use, and still in use for most household paints, there is no inside annular channel around the edge of the top of can I 0 which prevents the complete emptying of a can. Can I 0 has a broad pouring orifice defined by the circular wall H which terminates in rolled lip l2. Attention is called to this rolled lip l2 which on its under side provides very little purchase for a gripping means, particularly where the gripping means operates at right angles to the arc of the lip. It is the failure to recognize the very limited purchase surface available on the underside of this lip together with the comparatively pliable nature of the ean metal which is responsible for problem overcome by edge of this lid I3 is turned downward to form flange I4 which is continuous excepting for two check segments I5 and I6 turned outwardly and at right angles to the flange I4. These two check segments I5 and I6 are oppositely disposed and each check segment has a width of not less than.

ten degrees of the arc of the container orificethat is measured along circular ,wall H. Preferably these check segments have a Width, of

about fifteen degrees of arc similarly measured;

Raised in the under sideof lid I3 is annular channel I which receives gasket 18.

Centrallyoflid I3 wherein a hole has been cut is sunk cup I9 which is welded or soldered at its circumferential edge tolidI3. The method-of creating this cup I9 is not deemed important and forproduction purposes, it isbelieved that this cup will be stamped directly from the lid I3. 'I'he cup I9 is perforated centrally to pass tube .20 hereinafterdescribed. i

The locking means .or assembly which is generally identified-by the numeral 2| comprises a piece of elastic strap material 22 having an elongatedhole 23 in its central portion to pass tube 26, One end of strap material22 is bent to form jaw 24 which is adapted to slip under check'segment' I5= andunder the slip I2. The engaging edge of jaw 24 is curved-in the same are as the surface of circular wall II. See Fig. 5. The other end 25 of strap material 22 is curved downward and slightly inward, leaving, however, sufficiently so that point 38 will clear point 39 and point 40 will clear point 4|. Once in position, the tube 20 is inserted from the top through elongated hole 23, washer 35, thick rubber gasket 34 and cup I9. The hole in the rubber gasket 34 is'smaller than the diameter of tube 20 so that the tube is pressed through it with difiiculty.

Describing briefly the remaining structure shown in Fig. 2, the tip 42 of tube 20 is hemispheric in shape and carries collar 43 against which presses nut 44 when the latter is screwed onto threaded intake 45 of spray gun 46. That portion oftube 20 lying within the can III is curved as at 41 so that the paint may be sucked from the side of the container when tilted. At-

tention is called to the trigger 48 of the spray gim 46. This trigger varies in length and position in the various makes of spray guns and one of the principal aims of this invention is to enable the spray gun user to adjust the paint can as closelyas possible to the spraygun without interfering with the trigger. a

, Whenthe. locking means 2| is in unlocked position, the elongated hole 23 is slightly to the j left of the position shown in Fig. 2 as is the entire locking means-2|.

As the locking lever is pressed down, the strap material 22'moves'toward the locking lever 21, thus engaging jaw 24 with theunderside of lip I2. When the locking lever 21 reachesthe; point where the groove 29 engages the edge28, the adapter is locked to the can I0. To release, the'strap material, is pressed against the lid and the locking lever is readily disengaged.-

As can beseen-in the drawings, the two jaws 24 and 32 obtain a broad purchase upon the under side of lip I2 and jaw 32 actually isinserted, when in locked position, between the rolled portion-of the lip I2 and the circular wall II.

ficient clearance for slipping the end 25 over the lip I2 when the adapter is mounted on the can- In the end 251is cutout portion 26, rectangular in shape, and adaptedtoreceive locking lever 21. The lower edge 28 of cut-out portion 26is sharpened-to engage v outer wall of locking lever 21. Locking lever 21 is stamped from a single piece of metal and is comprised of handle 30, inwardly curved portion 3| and broadened jaw 32, the engaging portion of which .is a sharp edge curved in an arc approximating that of circular wall II.

groove 28 the In its unlocked position, it should be noted that the locking means 2| permits the removal of thelid I3 from thecan I0 because the distance between the inside edges of jaws 24 and 32 in released position exceeds the outside-diameter of-theorifice of can I0. On the other hand, the locking means 2| does notbecome dis engaged 'f-rom the-lid I3 because of the check segmentsl5 and-I6. f

Inassembling the container adapter, themediun'l soft, thick-rubber gasket 34 is seated in the cup' IS. -The-.locking lever 21 is slipped into the cut-out portion 26 by inserting the broadened jaw 32 side-wise through the cut-out portion 26 and then turning to its normal position. The locking means asaunit is then slipped from the side onto the lid, a'metal'washer 35 being inserted between the strap material 22 and the thick rubber gasket- 34. This slipping of the locking means onto 'the lid from the side is indicated'in Figs. 3-;and 5 by the arrows 36 and 31.

The strap materialcan be pressed outwardly suf- The broad purchase obtained by these two jaws eliminates shearing and tearing of the lip and accomplishes the principal object "of this invention. I 1

When the locking means 2| is in unlocked position; the operator may make a quick adjustment of the tube 28 in relationship to the-lid I3 and then lock the assembly. By so doing, thestrap material bears tightly against the rubber gasket 34which tightens around tube 20 and-prevents tube 20 moving at right angles to the lid I3.

Thus, without theuse of nuts or threaded parts,

a quickadjustment of the tube position has been effected and then the tube has been tightly positioned by the very locking means 2| which has fastened the adapter to the can II]. If it is necessary to use a lock nut having a difierent thread than lock-nut 44, for example, the tube 20, when the adapter is in unlocked position, is withdrawn from the adaptezg the nut required substituted, and the tube re-inserted into the adapter. This change is quicklyefiected when my adapter is used.

The operation of the strap material 22 against the rubber gasket 34 has the secondary effect of exerting an even pressure through the lid I3 upon'thegasket I8 so that there is a tight, leakproof fitbetween the lidand the canoriflce.

The ease ofassembling the various units or parts of the adapter indicates the ease with which they may be dis-assembled for cleaning purposes, a matter of considerable import where one is working in paint.

While I have shown and described only one embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that the basic conception maybe attained by other structures without departing from the spirit of the invention, and therefore it is intended that the invention shall be in no wise limited excepting as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A container lid having a tube therethrough, compressible material between the tube and the lid, and means for compressing said compressible material simultaneously with the locking of said lid to a container.

2. A container lid having a cup therein, compressible material in saidcup, a tube through said compressible material and said cup, and means for compressing said compressible material simultaneously with the locking of said lid to a container.

3. In combination with the outer lip of the orifice of a container and with a lid having a tube therethrough with compressible material between said tube and said lid, a locking means comprising a strap member having oppositely disposed jaws adapted to engage the under side of said lip, said strap member riding said tube and adjacent to said compressible material, and

clamping means at the end of said strap memher for clamping the strap material to the lip of the orifice whereby upon locking, the lid is tightened against the orifice through the compressible material and the lid is tightened to the tube by the compression of said member.

4. In combination with the outer lip of the orifice of a container and with a lid having a tube therethrough with compressible material between said tube and said lid, a locking means comprising a strap member having oppositely disposed jaws adapted to engage the under side of said lip, each of said jaws having a width of not less than ten degrees of arc of the orifice of the container, said strap member riding said tube and adjacent to said compressible material, and clamping means at the end of said strap member for clamping the strap member to the lip of the orifice whereby upon locking, the lid is tightened against the orifice through the compressible material and the lid is tightened to the tube by the compression of said member.

5. The same combination set forth in claim 4 with the additional factor that the locking means comprises a lever riding in a slot in one end of the strap member, said lever having a jaw adapted to engage the underside of the outer lip and having a slot to catch a sharpened edge of the slot when in locked position.

6. A removable container lid having a tube therethrough with compressible material between the tube and the lid, and a locking means comprising a strap member mounted on the tube and engageable with the compressible material, and on saidstrap member oppositely disposed jaws, each of said jaws having a width not less than ten degrees of the arc of the circumference of the lid.

7. A lid having a tube therethrough with compressible material between said tube and said lid and engaging said compressible material, a locking means comprising a strap member riding said tube and engaging the compressiblematerial, said locking means comprising a fixed jaw at one end of the strap member having a width of not less than ten degrees of the arc of the circumference of the lid, and an adjustable jaw at the other end of said strap member comprising a lever riding in a slot in theend of said strap member and carrying a locking jaw having a sharpened edge.

8. A container lid having a tube therethrough, compressible material between the tube and the lid, and flexible compressing means for tightening said material against the tube and the lid, said flexible compressing means comprising a metallic strap having a fixed hook at one end and a slot in the other end in which rides an adjustable lever having a jaw member.

9. The container lid set forth in claim 8 wherein the adjustable lever comprises an S- shaped member having a sharpened arcuate biting edge for engaging the outer under edge of a container and a wing member at the other end for manual operation.

CARL F. NOTI-I. 

